10 Coolest Women In Music Right Now

6. Natasha Khan €“ Bat For Lashes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UznHTBZIa8E Natasha Khan, aka Bat for Lashes, is one our most underrated artists, possibly because she's so consistently excellent, as if the high standard of every tremendous record she makes is expected as a given. She is unquestionably cool; she does exactly what she wants to do, following her singular path in her own style because she has to and as a result produces some of the most unique songs you will ever hear. Hers is a unique sound that sits somewhere between pop and electronica, but she never stays in the same musical place for very long. There is a constant theme amongst these incredible women in that their art totally eclipses any need to portray themselves as sex symbols, and Natasha Khan is the embodiment of this, the music is all that matters. And what music it is. On the cover of her last record, 'The Haunted Man' she posed completely naked, holding a man over her shoulder to cover her dignity. What was so striking about the image was that it wasn't remotely titillating. Sensual? Of course it was. Risqué? Not in the slightest. It was all in the name of her art. Compare this to Madonna's dreadfully ill-advised porn art endeavour 'Sex'. The story of 'The Haunted Man' album was the songs and nothing more. It is a tragedy that she always seems to be the bridesmaid in the awards arena; she's had two Mercury and four Brit Awards nominations yet has only won the 2010 Ivor Novello Award best song for 'Daniel'. It's about time the judges woke up and acknowledged one of our best songwriters and incontrovertible stars. As should you dear reader, start a petition today for her or at least go and buy one of the albums. Bat for Lashes are aiming for the stars and deserve to be absolutely huge.